As the 2024 year comes to a close, I wanted to give a quick run down on a few activities and also share some thoughts.
- Our book Designing Democratic Schools and Learning Environments continues to be a resource to many all over the world. It has now reached over 100,000 downloads!
- I taught the book in my HGSE class, “Schools in Action: Observing and Reflecting in Times of Crisis.” Students studied the book’s theoretical framework and used ideas from various chapters as a starting point to create their own pillars for democratic schools in their context. Their work surpassed my wildest expectations!
- Gustavo Royas Ayala (co-editor), and chapter co-author Patrica Vazquez del Mercado (chapter 30 Weaving Regenerative Education: A Reflection from the Pacific Coast of Mexico) and I presented at the International Book Festival in Guadalajara, Mexico this month. It was truly uplifting to interact with so many university students who wanted to hear the ideas of our book. There is talk of translating the entire book into Spanish! The picture is of us at the panel discussion.
- I’ve continued to record podcast episodes on various topics of interest to educational leaders. The latest is about professional learning communities and I think it’s one of the best yet! Listen to both Episode 3.1 and 3.2 and tell me what you think!
I keep learning more about the craft of leadership from mentoring and coaching principals. The job is unrelenting (it has always been), but I believe leaders today are considering some of the questions in Margaret Wheatley’s poem about possibilities instead of focusing so much on what’s wrong. And, the teachers I am privileged to work with are certainly igniting and treasuring curiosity in their students. Together, teachers and principals are creating communities that matter to young people.
I hope this poem gives you hope and many reasons to keep fighting for a better world.
Best wishes for 2025 and let me know what you are up to!
Turning to One Another by Margaret Wheatley
There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about.
Ask “What is possible?” not “What’s wrong?” Keep asking.
Notice what you care about.
Assume that many others share your dreams.
Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.
Talk to people you know.
Talk to people you don’t know.
Talk to people you never talk to.
Be intrigued by the difference you hear.
Expect to be surprised.
Treasure curiosity more than certainty.
Invite everybody who cares to work on what’s possible.
Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something.
Know that creative solutions come from new connections.
Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know.
Real listening always brings people closer together.
Trust that meaningful conversations can change your world.
Rely on human goodness. Stay together.
